Vehicle body



R. L. CARR May 16, 1933.

VEHICLE BODY Filed Sept. 11, 1931 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES RAYMOND L. CARR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS VEHICLE Bony Application filed September 11, 1931. Serial No. 562,283.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle bodies, and more particularly to an improved post and panel arrangement which is particularly applicable to a body having a pair of vertically movable panels with a post therebetween.

The invention is particularly useful in conjunction with a convertible body or a body with which it is desirable to have a clear uninterrupted space between the rear side wall of the top and the windshield standard assembly at least when the panels are lowered. My copending application Serial No. 370,393, filed June 12, 1929, discloses an arrangement whereby a flexible element is movable from a retracted position to a position in engagement with the adjoining edges of a pair of closure panels, thus to provide a weather- :ight closure wall; while my copending appiication Serial No. 560,7 7 6, filed September 2, 1931, disclosed guide channels for the same purpose. In accordance with this invention, a rigid post element automatically moves from a concealed 7 sections hingedly connected to each position within the body wall to a raised position thereabove when one panel is raised and preferably when either panel is raised. One of the panels may be carried upon a swinging door section of the body wall, and the post preferably is arranged to remain in engagement with the panels even when the door moves to itsfully open position. permit these desirable results, the present invention provides a movable post which has other, each. of these sections engaging one of the panel edges, for example, being in interiitting, sliding engagement therewith. One of the sections, and preferably both of thesections, may have a part at its upper end to engage the upper edge of the corresponding panel, so that the post is slid upwardly as the panel is lifted. Thus the top of the post n the preferred form of the invention may automatically precede either panel when that panel is raised. The post sections preferably are of generallychannel-like cross-section and engage opposite faces of the panels,

while having a suitable extent, so that when G the door is opened the post still engages the automatically swinging.

panels although some sliding movement between the post sections and the respective panels takes place. In order. to permit the post and panels to remain in engagement at all times,the post may have a greater height than the length of the vertical path of either panel, so that even when one panel and the post are fully raised the lower end of the post slidably engages the other panel.

A further feature of the invention relates to means carried upon the post which is automatically engageable in interfitting relation with a part of the vehicle top when the post attains its fully raised position.

This arrangement is advantageous in providing a suitable weather-tight closure wall, including the post and two independently movable panels, and in permitting the employment of a post for this purpose which ill support the panels and hold them prop- To erly positioned in relation to each other and the body wall, while avoiding the disadvan-- tages which have heretofore characterized convertible bodies of this type, namely, the necessity of separately positioning and securing posts between independently movable panels, or in depending upon separate swinging channels to provide filter elements between adjoining panels.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle body constructed in accordance with this invention, parts of the outer wall of the body being broken away more clearly to illustrate the relationship of the parts;

Fig. 2 is 'a detail plan view showing the arrangement of the post, panel edges, and the hinge connections for the post and the vehicle door, the dot and dash lines showing the position of the door and post sections when the door is swung to its fully open position: I Fig. 3 is an elevational detail, with parts shown in section, illustrating the construction of the upper part of the post and the means connecting the same to the frame of the vehicle top and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of one panel, showing the manner, in which the post engages the same.

In the accompanying drawing, numeral 1 designates a swinging door which forms one section of a body wall, the adjoining section being designated by the numeral 2. Panels 3 and are carried by the body wall sections 1 and 2, respectii 'ely, and are slidable upwardly from a concealed position within the body wall to a raised position thereabove. Lifting means may be employed for raising and properly positioning the panels 3 and l, the rollers 10 being part of any suitable lifting mechanism which may be of a conventional type. In )ltl'l' proiierly to guide the panels in'their vertical paths, suitable parallel guide bars 12 may be disposed within the body wall and may engage slidable shoes 13 that are connected to the panels 3 and 4; the latter may be of any suitable type, as shown, ch being provided with a glass body portion 15 and a marginal frame 16 of channel crosssection, suitable cushioning; material 17 being disposed between the marginal frame and the.

edge of the glass (Fig. l).

The door 1 is connected to wall section 2 by a plurality of hinges 19. a suitable latch being arranged at the front of the door to hold it in its closed position. The adjoining ends of the bodv wall sections 1 and 2 are preferably provided with vertical slots to receive and permit the movement of the vertical post 20. These slots may be of the general type already desc'ibed in my copending' application Serial No. 371,162, filed June 15, 1929. The post 20 preferably comprises two substantially similar sections 21 and 22 which may have a hinge connection 23 of the piano type that provides a hinge axis disposed outwardly of the outer faces of pan els 3 and 4, the latter preferably being disposed in substantial alignment with each other, as shown in 2. The hinge 23, however, is arranged inwardly of the outer face of the body wall. so that it may be concealed by the body wall when the post is fully lowered. Each of the sections 21 and 22 may have a substantially chauneldike cross-section with opposite leg portions opposite faces of the corresponding panel.

The lower end of each of the channel-like sections is preferably open. so that the correspondinn panel may extend below the lower end of that section note the posit-ion of panel at in Fig. 1), while the upper end of each section is preferably closed or provided with a cross-piece 29, this cross-piece being on gageable with the upper face of the corresponding panel. Thus. as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the frame of the panel 3 engages the cross-piece 29 of he section 21. l Vith this arrangement it is evident that the post 20 will be lifted whenever one of the panels is raised. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the panel 8 is in its fully raised position and holds the upper end of the postsubstantiallyin a position corresponding to that of the upper edge of the panel. If the panel 4 were fully lowered and the panel 3 were raised to an intermediate position, the upper end of the post would be substantially on a level with the upper edge of the panel 3, thereupon if the panel 4 were fully raised, the upper edge of that panel would engage the upper part of post section and lift the post to the position show-n in Fig. 3. The post sections preferably each have a length which greater than the length of the path of the corresponding panel, so that even when one panel is fully raised and the other panel. is fully lowered the upper part of the lowered panel is engaged by the lower part of the corresponding post section.

The section preferably carries an upwardly projecting conical or tapered element 1 which slidably engages a longitudinal groove or recess 32 in a part carried by the vehicle top T. For example, as shown in Fig.

3, the projection 31 may have an interlittin engagement with a cushioning element 35 of rubber or the like which is located within a frame element 36 of the top T, and provides a recess having a cross-sectional form coinplementary to that of conical element 31'. Thus the upper end of post 20 is held against transverse movement, although it may move longitudinally of the body wall.

The hinge axis provided hinges l9 preferably is disposed substantially parallel to the vertical paths of panels 3 and 4 and substantially in the planes of the ends of the panels, this axis being located. however, ouiside of the body wall. W hen the door section 1 is swung around this pivot, as indi cated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, the post sections 21 and slide u pon the adjoining margins of the panels and l, ad hinge 23 moving forwardly to the po' .on indicated in dot and dash lines, and the em oi the panels are moved out of engagement in t the corresponding ends or bight portions of the post sections to which they are juxtaposed when the door is closed. As the door is swung bacl: towards its closed position. the panels slide inwardly in relation to the corresponding post sections and the post tions ultimately are returned to the po won shown in full lines in Fig. In order to prevent undesirable contact between these sections and to hold them firmly in engagement with the ends of the panels when the door is closed, I may provide suitable bumper elements 39 of rubber or the like.

It is evident that this arrangement is advantageous since it permits the ind-spent manipulation of either panel by its own lifting mechanism, and requires no special of on the part of the operator to lift the pos 20 or secure it in place. The ends of the pr sections are normally held firmly in place. the bumpers 39 being slightly compressed, so that the post is properly held bctw on the antomatica l en a ed in interfittin relation D b h with the top. lVhen the panel holding the post in its raised position is lowered, the post normally tends to return to its lowered position under the action of gravity; however, if the post should not drop in this manner, the operator can easily slide the post downwardly in one continuous movement.

I claim:

L'Vehicle body comprising a body wall including adjoining sections, panels movable upwardly from said sections to a raised position thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post engaging adjoining margins of said panels, said post being movable upwardly in response to the movement of one of said panels and having a channel portion remaining in slidable interfitting engagement with the margin of one of said panels.

2.'Vehicle body comprising a body wall including adjoining sections, panels movable upwardly from said sections to a raised position the'reabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable out of a concealed position wherein its upper end is juxtaposed to the upper edge of the body wall to a raised position wherein it engages the margins of panels at either side thereof, said post engaging both panels throughout its own path and the respective paths of the panels.

3. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respec-. tive sections, said panels being independently movable from a concealed position within the wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position Withinthe body to a raised position thereabove, said post, throughout its path, being intersected by the general plane of the door edgeand engaging the edge of one of said panels throughout the path of that panel, and

' engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is raised.

4:. Avehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions Within the sections to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thereabove, said post, throughout its path,

engaging the edge of one of said panels throughout. the path of that panel, and engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is raised, hinge means between said sections permitting thedoor section to swing to an open position, the post engaging both panels when it is raised and the door section is in its open position.

5. Vehicle body comprising a bodywall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair ofpanels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from a concealed position within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable along a substantially straight vertical path from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thereabove,=said post, throughout its path, engaging the edge of one of said panels throughout the path of that panel, and engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is raised, said post being movable upwardly in response to the upward movement of one of said panels.

6. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thercabove, said post being movable upwardly in response to the movement of either of said panels, and the position of its upper end being determined by the position of either panel when that panel is raised above the other panel.

7 Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thereabove, said post being movable upwardly in response to the upward movement of one of said panels, a top extending over the body wall, said post having an end portion automatically cngageable in interfitting relation with a part of the top when the post rises to its uppermost position, said post and top having tapered portions to facilitate their inter-fitting engagement.

8. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position w'thin the body to a raised position thereahove, said post comprising pivotally connections sections, the body wall sections having their adjoining edges pivotally connected, each of the panels being engageable with and longitudinally sli-dable in relation to one of the post sections, whereby the panels and post remain in engagement when the door is opened.

9. Vehicle body comprising a body Wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, said post having parts engageable with the upper parts of the panels so that the post is lifted in response to the lifting of either panel, the post having a height greater than the length of the path of either panel, and engaging both panels when one panel fully raised and the other fully lowered.

10. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed ion within the body to a raised position thereabove, said post comprising pivotally connected sections, the body wall sections having their adjoining edges pivotally connected, said post having sections that are hinged to each other and in interfitting eng :-igeinent with the respective panels, the body wall sections having hinged connecting means tlierebetween, whereby the panels and post remain in engagement when the door is closed.

i 11. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thcreabove, said post, throughout its path, engaging the edge of one of said panels throughout the path of that panel, and engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is ra sed, said post being novable upwardly in response to the upward movement of one of said panels, a top extending over the body wall, said post hav ing an end portion automatically engageable in interfitting relation with a part of the op when the post rises to its uppermost posi-tion, each of said post sections being of channel-like form and engaging opposite faces of the adjoining panels while being vertically slidable in relation thereto.

12. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the re spective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position Within the body to a raised position thereabove, said post, throughout its path, engaging the edge of one of said panels throughout the path of that panel, and engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is raised, said post being movable upwardly in response to the upward movement of one of said panels, a top extending over the body wall, said post having an end portion automatically engageable in interfitting relation with a part ()I the top when the post rises to its uppermost position, each of said post sections being of channel-like form and engaging opposite faces of the adjoining panels while being vertically slidable in relation thereto, the upper end of one of said post sections having an upper transverse element connecting opposite legs of its channellike portion so that the post may be lifted in response to lifting of that panel.

13. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, said panels being independently movable from concealed positions within the body wall to raised positions thereabove, positioning and guiding means for the panels, a post slidable from a concealed position within the body to a raised position thereabove, said post, throughout its path, engaging the edge of both of said panels throughout the path of the panels, and engaging the edge of the other panel at least when that panel is raised, said post being movable upwardly in response to the upward movement of one of said panels, a top extending over the body wall, said post having an end portion automatically engageable in in terfitting relation with a part of the top when the post rises in its uppermost position, each of said post sections being of channel-like form and engaging opposite faces of the adjoining panels while being vertically slidable in relation thereto, the upper ends of the post sections having parts en gageable with the upper ends of the panels, whereby the post is automatically lifted in response to the movement of either panel to a position higher than that of the adjoining panel.

14. Vehicle body comprising a body wall, said wall including a pair of adjoining sections, a pair of panels carried respectively by said sections, said panels being independently movable along substantially vertical paths, a post movable from a concealed position within the body wall along a substantially vertical path and engaging both of said panels when it and the panels are raised, and means associated withthe post whereby its top portion rises ahead of one of the panels while that panel is being raised, said post having a channel-like section in which one of the panel edges is slidably received, one end of said section having a part engaging the panel, the opposite end being open, whereby the post moves with the panel in one direction, but the panel may slide in the post section when said panel moves in the opposite direction.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 10th dayof September, 1931.

RAYMOND L. CARR. 

